Winterhawks fall 5-4 in a shootout with the Chiefs

by Portland Winterhawks

The Portland Winterhawks (37-7-1-2) made a third period comeback but dropped a 5-4 decision in a shootout in Spokane Wednesday against the Chiefs (30-16-2-0). Portland earned a point in the standings despite the loss.

Portland's Adam de Champlain opened the scoring at the 16:30 mark of the first to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. But Spokane responded with goals just under a minute apart from Dylan Walchuk and Brenden Kichton to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.

Spokane's Adam Helewka notched the lone goal of the second period at the 11:01 mark as they took a 3-1 lead after two periods.

Ty Rattie got the Hawks within one when he scored 5:28 into the third to make it 3-2, but the Chiefs regained the two-goal lead 52 seconds later on Helewka's second goal of the game. Portland again cut the deficit to one when defenseman Troy Rutkowski scored a shorthanded goal at the 15:13 mark to make it a 4-3 game. The Hawks continued applying pressure, and got the equalizer on Rattie's second of the period at the 16:31 mark, setting up overtime.

Portland dominated overtime, outshooting the Chiefs 8-1 in the extra frame, but Spokane netminder Eric Williams kept the game even, setting up the shootout.

Neither team scored in the first two rounds of the shootout, but Spokane's Kichton scored in the third round. Williams then turned away the Hawks' third attempt to secure the win for the Chiefs.

Rutkowski tied a franchise record Wednesday, playing in his 326th career game, a mark held by Kevin Haupt. He will set the new record Friday when the Hawks and Chiefs meet once again at 7 p.m. in Spokane.

Rattie also reached a milestone Wednesday, registering his 300th career point.